GERONTOLOGY NEWS FROM UMASS BOSTON
June/July 2022
Congrats to our newest gerontology PhDs
During hooding ceremonies on May 25, Claire Wickersham (above left, with her advisor, Gerontology Institute Director Jan Mutchler) and Meghan Hendricksen (above right, with her advisor, Professor Beth Dugan, and center) became our newest gerontology doctoral alumni. The McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies's honored Wickersham with the Dean's Outstanding PhD Graduate Student award during the ceremonies. Earlier in May, the Department of Gerontology awarded it annual Book Award for her dissertation, "Perceived Discrimination and Health Outcomes in Older Adults." (Photos by Eddie Miller)
Elder Index report estimates continuing levels of economic insecurity for older Americans
In a new report, Jan Mutchler, PhD, and doctoral student Nidya Velasco Roldán offer data on economic security for older adults based on the Elder Index. Developed by UMass Boston gerontologists, the index provides a comprehensive reflection of the cost of living for older adults, county by county across the United States. The National Council on Aging's Equity in Aging Collaborative is working with the Gerontology Institute to train advocates on using the Elder Index for more accurate, regionally specific benchmarks of economic security.
Remembering Yung-Ping "Bing" Chen
We honor the memory of former gerontology faculty member Bing Chen, whose research and scholarship included pioneering the reverse mortgage concept and developing innovative approaches to funding Social Security benefits and long-term care. Chen passed away on May 10, 2022.
Members of Mass Senior Action, the Council on Aging, and staff toured the new senior center in Lynn, MA, in May 2022.
Helping Mass. senior centers transform, meet residents' needs at record levels
Caitlin Coyle, PhD, a research fellow with the Gerontology Institute’s Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging, and her team partner with community based organizations on the planning, development, and improvement of services and support for older adults and people with disabilities. In 2022, they have nearly doubled the number of communities they're working with across Massachusetts, often helping communities transform their senior centers into hubs of information and activities.

HONORING FRANK CARO
Special issue of JASP honors Caro's legacy of age-friendly community research
Frank Caro
The newest issue of the Journal of Aging & Social Policy is dedicated to the memory of Frank Caro, PhD, the long-time editor of the journal, professor emeritus of gerontology at UMass Boston, and former director of the Gerontology Institute. The issue, "Honoring the Legacy of Frank Caro: Research at the Intersection of Policy and Practice in Age-Friendly Cities and Communities,” focuses on the global age-friendly movement to make environments and community systems more supporting of long and healthy lives, work that Caro championed over the years.
Caro scholarship could grow to two awards
A doctoral scholarship fund created in 2021 to honor Frank Caro is growing quickly, surpassing its original goal and opening the possibility of offering awards to two doctoral students. The Frank Caro Scholarship for Social Justice in Aging will support doctoral students who are dedicated to prioritizing under-represented communities in their research and/or service through a culturally informed approach. The award includes full tuition coverage, year-round research stipends, and professional development funding.
Cruising into summer: UMass Boston Gerontology students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a harbor cruise in May, celebrating the end of the school year and enjoying the novelty of gathering in person again.
UMASS BOSTON GERONTOLOGY IN THE NEWS
"Embracing learners of all ages," the American Psychological Association talks with Nina Silverstein, Lauren Bowen, Susan Whitbourne, and Joann Montepare about their Age-Friendly University work, June 1, 2022.

"Treasure Hunt: Find the Pension Money You're Owed," Anna-Marie Tabor talks with Investor's Business Daily, May 26, 2022.

"Mass. legislators weigh creating another health care school to relieve worker shortage," Eddie Miller talks with WGBH about the prospect of UMass Amherst creating a health care school at the Mount Ida campus, May 25, 2022.

"Age-Friendly Salem, Massachusetts," AARP Livable Communities looks at Caitlin Coyle's work with Salem, MA, May 24, 2022.

"Help with Medicare Costs: What You Need to Know," Jan Mutchler talks with the New York Times, May 20, 2022.

"Needs assessment finds better communication, programs would boost South County Senior Center," Caitlin Coyle talks with Greenfield Recorder about her work with older adults and town officials in Deerfield, Sunderland, and Whately, MA, May 20, 2022.

"Bringing common sense to assisted living," op-ed from Massachusetts Assisted Living Association in CommonWealth magazine looks at study from LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston and Collective Insight on the impact of allowing ALR nurses to provide basic care, May 8, 2022.